Robert - Meetup Organizer of the Week - 3.10.08

Welcome to the Windy City, home of the Chicago Weekly Sitting Meditation Group and our wonderful Meetup Organizer of the Week, Robert!

"These glorious local meditators just happen to be the same type of people that I would want to socialize with in my daily life, and so it was natural for friendships and a genuine community - offline - to form! It has exceeded my expectations in every way!" - Robert

For Robert, The Chicago Weekly Sitting Meditation Group has fulfilled an integral facet of our Meetup mission. Upon returning to the Chicago area, he utilized Meetup.com not only as a convenient, easy way to connect with local, like-minded people, but to take these connections to the next level as an offline entity - an in the flesh community.

By creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere, the attendance of his weekly meetings has flourished from its existence on the Meetup.com site and good old-fashioned (and still the best!) word-of-mouth promotion via his members.

Read on and be inspired! Thanks, Robert.

When did your interest in weekly sitting meditation begin?

I would say my current spiritual exploration, which led to a regular meditation practice, began in 1995 while studying in Northern California. Through a succession of teachers and ever deepening experiences, I went to Asia for further study. It was at a monastery in Thailand last year where I asked my meditation teacher how to maintain my practice once I returned to the "chaotic" West, with all of the distractions in our normal everyday lives?

He suggested joining or starting a weekly meditation group to surround myself with like-minded practitioners who support each other in the practice. In fact, the Meetup site was actually perfect for that. Once I had the courage, I put it out there in February 2007 on the Meetup site and to the Universe at large, and over a year later we can see there was definitely appetite for it here in Chicago! Ninety percent of our members have found out about us - totally on their own - through the Meetup site - the rest has been word of mouth subsequent to that.

Will you bring us along on your journey as a student studying in Thailand & India?

This is a very difficult question to answer. Each experience (for everyone) is unique and very personal. Intensive meditation study is a completely inward journey.

As in being an organizer of a Meetup group, the energy and determination and effort and intention that you put into it, is what you'll get out of it. What I can say is that it is probably the greatest gift you can give yourself, because it permits you to appreciate the truly important things in life such as inner peace and more compassion for yourself & others - not just happiness through acquiring material goods. The former is long-lasting; the latter is temporary. During a retreat you usually have plentiful & yummy vegetarian food, a very rustic shared room with mosquito net, pillow, and sleeping pad. The day begins at 4:45am and ends at 8:00pm. There are sitting, standing, walking, and stretching sessions as well as a job such as sweeping or chopping vegetables. It does not do justice to attempt to portray the experience of a retreat like this into mere words, however how often do we do something so meaningful that you carry it with you the rest of our lives? Suffice it to say that for me, it has been the most beneficial and rewarding of practices.

How long did it take for your Meetup to attain its current attendance of 10+ at each weekly meeting?

Not too terribly long. In the 3rd or 4th month we had groups exceeding 20 for several weeks and at least 10+ meditators since then regularly. Of course a lot of it depends on the weather and season, but even throughout blizzarding Chicago winter nights (and there were many...), when I was confident no one would show up, we had 10 or more enthusiastic participants. I was completely blown away! No pun intended...

Recently you've introduced an Eckhart Tolle video presentation as part of your weekly meditation. Will his teachings a part of your meetings in the future?

It very well may be from time to time. That session was the idea of Rossi, an Assistant Organizer, who had experience studying the works of Tolle and expressed a desire to introduce it to the group.

This is an independent group that is open to various meditation formats and teachings. I've stated that the group is open for anyone willing to step forward and propose a meditation-themed topic or format for the group and to also be the facilitator occasionally.

Rossi has led the group a couple of times and and her experience and energy has been extremely well-received. Based on schedules and other commitments, I hope she can lead the group again soon. Perhaps after the Tolle/Oprah class, we can have some sessions focusing on that.

How has your experience as a Meetup Organizer enhanced your life?

It has given me a venue in which to associate with "wise & beneficial" people in and around my local area, Chicago. These are the people who support me in my practice and vice versa. These glorious local meditators just happen to be the same type of people that I would want to socialize with in my daily life, and so it was natural for friendships and a genuine community - offline - to form! It has exceeded my expectations in every way!

I noticed you've created an additional social ethnic dinner meeting - was the transition from silent meditation to a purely social situation an easy one?

Yes, it was quite easy. Sometimes coming to a meditation may be a little scary or intimidating for a brand new person.

Last summer the assistants and I decided to initiate a purely social event for the community to get together outside of the auspices of a formal meditation. With this in mind we planned a free event to see the Whilrling Dervishes - a sufi-based meditative dancing sect from Turkey - perform in Millenium Park in Downtown Chicago. We had over 25 people, many who hadn't been to a meditation before, and it was a wonderful way to introduce them to the group.

In this spirit we've had one social event every couple of months such as an Indian Art Exhibit, Ice Skating outside around Christmas-time, and now the ethnic dining nights out. The dining was a spontaneous idea by a few members after a meditation who wanted to get a bite to eat. We said, "hey we can put it on the Meetup site and make it a monthly event." - so that's what we did and the first one was a blast.

Do you have other enhancements planned for your Meetup?

We really don't need too many at the moment. They say, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" and things are going really well at the moment. There is the possibility of a more intensive full-day or weekend meditation workshop later this spring/summer - I have been asked about it - but one of the ways I believe the group has flourished is being true to its intention and staying consistent and resisting the temptation to stray too far away from the course as to dilute the wonderful energy being created on the Monday nights.

With meditation, 90% of the benefits of the practice come from a regular practice and therefore the focus will always be on "keeping the ball rolling" for our core Monday evening meditators.

Any final words of wisdom for the new or struggling Meetup Organizer?

Location is quite an important decision for your group. Usually there must be restrooms available, parking, and access to public transportation. Not only that, but the availability of the space must be there and the price (free is best) must be right.

Don't get discouraged, there are many partnerships you may be able to form with local businesses to use their place in exchange for some publicity through your group. Just like anything else it has to be a labor of love. You must be passionate about it and your enthusiasm will show through. As I said earlier - the energy you put into it is what you'll get out of it.

Among the most important things to do as an organizer is to meet and greet your members.

Be sure everyone feel welcomed - especially the newcomers - reassuring everyone they're in the right place. Go out of your way to introduce members as they arrive to the ones who are already there. Think about how someone may be a little nervous coming the first time and do your best to make people feel comfortable. It sounds easy but I cannot stress how important and beneficial to the group this simple gesture is.

I feel a good organizer also finds or nominates quality assistant organizers to delegate, exchange ideas, and share the responsibilities (and rewards).

I have been blessed with very knowledgeable, dedicated, and honorable assistants without whom this group would not have survived in its current form. The assistance and support from especially Sheri, Michael, Stutz, Rossi, Jen, Casey, and Sharad has been invaluable and I accept "Organizer of the Week" on behalf of them and my members.